Selective Exposure

The best explanation I can find for a reason why people can hold such vastly different opinions after analyzing the same "facts" is provided by Farhad Manjoo in his book "True enough: Learning to live in a post-fact society". In his book Manjoo cites research which proves people tend to seek out information and interpret it in a way which confirms their beliefs, while avoiding information they find unpleasant or contrary. By looking for information which conforms to our beliefs we automatically bias our own opinions. This tendency of everyone to screen their own input is called selective exposure by today's psychologists.

What selective exposure has led to in the internet age is a splintering of society. Since anyone can now seek out others online who hold similar opinions to their own, it is easy to dismiss all opinions contrary to those we prefer. "Facts" can always be found to support any theory, no matter how far off the beaten path or ridiculous. Smoking is a perfect example. Everybody should be able to agree on the fact that smoking either is or is not bad for our health. However, people still hold opinions and facts which support both sides of this argument.

So far society has been able to find its way between the "proven" positions of its extremists. We all just need to remember that "facts" are in the mind of the holder as beauty is in the eye of the beholder and as such are subject to our own personal bias. In the absence of conclusive proof to support any particular point of view, we must consider all points of view to have some validity. Therefore, we all need to increase our tolerance to ideas contrary to our own. An exercise I use frequently is to watch or read opinions in opposition to those I hold to look for points in common.